Centrifugal refrigerating-machine.



V. J. GETZ.

CENTHIFUGAL KEFRIGERATING MACHINE.

ABPLICATIOH FILED JUNE .0. m15.

Patented Jan. 8, l1918.

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i VICTOR J'. GOETZ, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CENTRIFUGAL REFRIGERATING-MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application led Jun'e 10, 1915. Serial No. 33,250.

To all whom it may concern.' 4

Be it known that I, VICTOR J. GoETz, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Centrifugal Refrigerating-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

In refrigerating machines applicable for any purposes and particularly for household purposes, it is desirable to eliminate any and all complications such as, for eX- ample, the adjusting of valves, the tlghtening of stuffing boxes, the frequent 011mg. of the moving parts, the necessity of keeping close watch of the different gages, and other mechanical adjustments which are beyond theskill of a layman. .It is also essential that the machine is constructed in such a manner that it is perfectly safe to operate and free from any possibility of the escapement of sufocating fumes, and that the machine will operate Withja minimum of vibration and noise.

'With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter` more clearly appear my invention in its broad and generic scope consists of a centrifugal refrigerating machine. l

It further consists of a novel refrigerating machine wherein the moving parts are all inclosed, and wherein high pressure and low pressure chambers are provided which are constructed in a novel manner.`

\ `It further consists of a novel refrigerating machine wherein the compressing medium also serves to lubricate the bearings'.

It further consists of a novel refrigerating machine wherein high and low pressure chambers are formed by means of an'outer rotatable casing and an inner stationary member, novel means belngprovlded for the k passage of the compressing medium and the refrigerating medium, and novel means being also provided to automatically control thepressure in the expansion chamber of the machine.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly ap- "pear in the detailed description of the invention. Y

For

ment 'which illustrates the prlnciple thereof vthe purpose of illustrating my invenv tion, I have shown herein a typical embodito be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously` arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organizationl of these instrumentalities as hereinset. forth.

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation. of a centrifugal refrigerating apparatus, embodying my invention.

Figs` 2 and 3 represent, respectively, on an enlarged scale, sectional elevations of portions of the machine.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures;

Referring to the drawings:

The refrigerating medium employed may be any of the well known refrigerants such as, for example, ammonia, ethyl chlorid and the like, but for convenience of description I have assumed that anhydrous ammonia is used. The com ression medium employed may be any of t e well known compressing fluids such as, for example; mercury, oil or the like, butfor convenience of description, I refer to mercury as being employed' to carry the refrigerant from the low4 ressure chamber in the form of a gas to .t e hivh pressure chamber in a proper condition or liquefying. The aspirating action` on the ammoniagas iseifected by the passage of the mercury past the nozzle, the mercury being actuated by centrifugal force. 1 designates the base or supportingfrmework, on which'is mounted a water tank 2 and a brine tank 3. Bearings 4 are prvided in which are journaled a rotatable shellv or 'casing 5, portionsof which rotate within the water tank and'within the brine tank. The outer casing 5 comprisesa tubular cylindrical portion 6, which terminates in a eupshaped Harige 7 at one end, and an end closure or late 8 is secured-4 thereto by means of the astening devices 9.l The plate 8 has connected'therewith a chambered hub 10'to which is -securedin any tiesired manner a connection from the prime mover, and for purpose 'of illustration I have'shown a pulley 11 adapted to receive a belt driven by any Vdesired source of power. I preferably employ a; directly connected motor in order It0 eliminate the vibration and noise, which might otherwise occur.

The cup-shaped flange Tand closure 8' revolve within the water tank'2 andform with aninner stationary mem-ber 12 a comression chamber 13. The stationary memlier 12 comprises a plate or disk'14 having laterally extendingr fianges 15 the inner faces of which are threaded, in the present instance, in order to receive a disk 16 the'lower portion of which s preferably solid or weighted, while the upper portion thereof is chambeied, as at 17, in order that the member 12 will at all times assume a stationary position within the revolving casing 5. The disk 16 is in the form of an aniiulus having its inner'portion forming an enlarged rounded head 18 and the inner. face' of the end closure 8 is shaped to provide a chamber or passage 19. The central portion of the p'late 8 is curved inwardly to form the apex 20` The disk 1,6 and the plate14 are connected in suoli a manner that a chamber 21 is formed between such parts. 22 designates a nozzle connected with the central portion of the plate 14 and the outer face of said nozzle, as at 23, is concentric with the contiguous walls of the member 18, as will be best understood by reference to Fig. 3. The nozzle 22 communicates by means of a. passage 24, extendn 'through a hub 25 of the plate 14, with a chamber 26 of a conduit 27 which latter is lconnected with said hub 25 in any desired manner: I n the present instance, the conduit 27 is 1n threaded engagement with said hub 25 and serves to retain in position a race of the ball bearing 28. A fastening device 29 is preferably provided to prevent. relative movement of thp parts. The chamber 26 is 1n communication with the chamber 21 by means of a restricted passage 30 extending through the hub 25. The chamber 21 is also in communication with a chamber 31, formed between the plate 14 and the wall of the flange 7, by means of a desired number of ports 32 extending through the plate 14 at its outer peripherf.

.33 esignates a passage communicating with the compression chamber 13 near its upper end and extending through. the disk 16 and the `late 14 and said passage 33 communicates y means of a restricted passage 34 with a p-ipe 35, one end of which is connected to the hub 25. 36 designates a re- 'movable plug carried by the plate 14. 37 designates a clos-ure at one end of the conduit i 27 with which the tube 35 is in threaded en- 4gagement, said tube communicating with a designates an antifricton or ball bearing similar to the ball bearing 28 a portion of which is carried by the conduit 27 and a ortion by the casin 5, which latter is provided with an outward y extending flan e or plate 47, to the outer periphery of which is connected a bell or other shaped casing 48 by means of fastening devices 49.

50 designates a plate or disk the upper portion of which is chambered, as at 51, and this plate or disk is mounted on the conduit 27 in any desired manner, and in the construction shown is illustrated as being connected therewith by means of a Akey 52 and a nut 53, which is in threaded engagement with the conduit 27, see more particularly Fig. 2. One of the bearing rings of the ball bearing 46 is connected to the plate 50 by means of fastening devices 54. In order to provide for the lubrication of the ball bearing 46, I forni a assage 55 leading from the bottom of the p ate or disk 50 to the ball bearing 46.

The valve 40 is automatically controlled and, in the form illustrated, it is in threaded engagement with a cross bar 56 and is provided with a nut 57. The cross bar 56 is carried by the guide rods 58 and is adjustably connected ,with said guide rods owing to the provision of the nuts 59 on opposite sides of the cross bar. The rods 58 are guided in a bracket 60 which is lixed in any desired manner with respect to the late 50 and the outer'ends of said guide ro s 58 are adjustably connected with al cross bar 61 by means of nuts 62. The cross bar 61 has adjustably connected therewith by means of nuts 63, a rod 64, which is secured in anyldesired manner to a diaphragm, 65, said diaphragm being retained in osition by| means of the plate 66 connected) in any desired mann r to the bracket 60 and adapted to secure in xed position the outer periphery of the diaphragm. The bracket 60 has the central portion thereof inwardly deflected to form a chamber in which is located a spring 67 which normally maintains the diaphragm in neutral osition.

68 designates a guide bushing for the rod 64 and an adjusting device for the tension of the spring 67, said bushing being adjustably carried b the bracket 60. 69 designates a cover p ate secured to the bracket 60 by means of fastening devices 70 and said plate can be readily removed when it is desired to adjust` the tension of the spring 67, which can be accomplished by rotating in the proper direction the bushing 68.

In order that the pressure' in the expansion chamber may be readily determined, I provide mean's to receive agage connection. 71 designates a port lea ding from the expansion chamber 42 and communicating with a .chamber 72 into which the reduced endof a coupling valve 73 extends,.tl1e end of Said valve being adapted to close said port 71. 74 designates a passage throu h the coupling valve 73. 75 designates a stu ng box.

The ompression chamber 13 is also adapted to ave a gage connected therewith. I provide ports 76 leading from'the compression chamber 13 to a chamber` 77 into'lwhic-h ture and quantity of water inthe water tank 2, and will be about 180 pounds -in midsummer or, in other words, will substantially correspond to` any `other compression refrigerating Iplant using anhydrous ammonia outsi e dueto centrifugal creases,

as its refrlgerating medium.

Assuming that the machine is at rest, and the pressure equalized on both sides of the machine and that the valve 40 is closed, the compressing medium, such as mercury, will lie inthe bottom of the compression chamber 13 and substantially an equal amount will be on each sideAA of the stationary disk in the channels 19 and 31 and also in the chamber 21. A smallquantity of mercury will also be in the expansion chamber 42. The liquid ammonia. willl lie on top of the mercu and some'of it will also be in the expansion end and the ammonia gas will occupy the remaining space within the casing 5. The casing 5 is now revolved in any desired manner and during suchrevolution the disks or members 16 and `50and their adjuncts remain stationary. As soon` as the casin 5 revolves, the mercur will fly to the orce and as it passes the small hdles 32, due to the fact that the members 12 and 16 are stationary, the mercury will `enter into the channel 21 and Vbe forced at a high rate of speed through the small contracted opening 81 thereby aspirating the ammonia gas throu h the nozzle 22 into the channel 19. Since t e ammonia `gas is being crowded into a smaller space the compression of the gas naturally follows.l and since the entire compression end'of the machine'revolves in water the latent heat will be carried off to convert this ammonia gas into a liquid. As the pressure in the chamber 19 becomes greater, sure inthe chamber 31 correspondingly dethe revolving mercury will be forced over from the chamber 19 to the chamber 31 until the centrifugal force of the mercury on the one side balances `the ressure and the centrifugal force of the liquid on the other side, thus forming a seal between the high and low side or, inA other words, a liquid stuiiing box is provided. This "transfer of The pressure at the compression end ofv the machine is determined by the temperaand the presr the ammonia gas from the expansion end of the expanslon chamberu continues until. the pressure in the expansion chamber 42 permittingthe ammonia liquid to pass from` the compression chamber 13 through the..

passage 33, through passage 34, through conduit 35, through port 38 and passage 43 vinto the expansion chamber 42. This 'ammonia liquid at once expands into a as, thuslower- .ing its Ytemperature and tending to raise the pressure in the expansionchamber 42. As

soon as the pressure expands sufficiently in the chamber 42 the valve 40 will again close to prevent any more ammonialiquid from being carried over. The pressurefis then lowered in the expansion chamber 42 until thevalve 40"aga1n opens to admit more liquid A,or the valve 40 remains open to permit as much liquid into the expansion chamber as the compression chamber can carry oil' and maintains an even pressure at the exf` pansion end. The passage`30 is constantly open to let a small quantity of mercury flow continuously into the chamber 26 and throughfpassage 44 into .the expansion chamber for t e purpose offlubrication.

The mercury with 'ts ammonia gas jetting into the channel 81 is so intimately mixed as to' form substantially a vapor. The heat of the gas is therefore "evenly and rapidly given up toy the 4mercury `which in turn gives up its heat to the interior wall of the compression endvofthe casing', which is continually coming into contact with the cold water, so that the compression end of the `casing 5 also becomes a condenser. The small particles into which the mercury is broken up when it is injected into the compression chamber will quickly separate from the gas and the liquid ammonia due to the great difference in their respective weights,

and the mercury will thus be carried (to the'` cury willtravel toward the compression ,end`

due to centrifugal force. a

The entire apparatus is sof proportioned l age of therefrigerating or compressing methat when the. machine is working at its proper pressures, the mercury will just fill the channels or chambers 21 and 31 while the liquid ammonia will fill about two-thirds of the channel or chalnber 19. The valve couplings 73 and 7 8 are for the purpose of connecting gages to ascertain the pressures when assembling and adjusting the machine, and one of these valves is also employed to exhaust the air from the apparatus and fill it with ammonia. It will be seen that the ammonia gas'passes from the expansion chamber-42'through passage 45 into the chamber 26 and thence through passage 24 to and through the nozzle 22.

Special attention is directed to the fact that owing to the novel manner of constructing the rotatable casing there can be no leakdium and a mercury seal is formed between the high pressure and the low pressure chambers.

Since the casing is rotatably mounted, I eliminate the necessity of em loying stuflin boxes` and I have also reduce the number o frictional parts to a minimum with consequent'increase in lthe durability vof the construction.

While I preferably provide a restricted vpassage 30 and a passage 44 in order that the mercury will serve to lubricate the ball bearing, it will be apparentthat these assages may be omitted without departing rom the spirit or scope of myinvention. The mercury in the expansion chamber 42 works u wardly through the passage around t e anti-'friction evices of the ball bearing 46 and owing to centrifugal forcethe mercury is carried to and throu h the ball bearing 28.

It will be understood that thetank 3 may simply form an air chamber of the refriger-V ator 'or it may be filled with brine which may be circulated in any desired manner and in t the form shown the circulation willv be effected by the rapid revolution of the casinv 48. i

In so vfar as I am aware, I am the first 'in the art to devise a centrifugal refrigerating machinerfin which a refrigerating medium, suchy a," ercury, produces, due to centrifu- 4an aspirating action on the ammoniagasor to devise a machine in which the mercury forms a seal between thehigh and low -pressure chambers and it is therefore to be understood that my claims to such features are 'to receive the broadand generic which a pioneer lnvention` interpretation to isenttled.l v h' It. willnow beapparent that I have devised a` novel and useful. construction of aV 'centrifugal refrigeratilng machine which em# bodies'thefeatures of advantage enumerated asfdesirable in the statement ofthe `invention and the above description, and' while I have,

in the present instance, shown and described `having intercommunicating high and low pressure chambers to receive the refrigerating and the compressing mediumsand an aspirator operated by centrifugal force on the compressing medium to continuously aspirate the gaseous portiontof the refrigerating medium from the low pressure `chamber to the high. pressure chamber and change it to a liquid.

2. A centrifugal refrigeratin machine, having intercommunicating hig and low pressure chambers to receive the refrigerating and the compressing mediums, and an aspirator operated by centrifugal force on the compressing medium to continuously aspirate the gaseous portion of the refrigerating medium from the low ressure chamber to the high pressure chamber and change it to a liquid, and means to automatically control the passage of such liquid to the low pressure chamber.

3. Ahcentrifugal refrigerating machine, having intercommunicating' high and low pressure chambers to receive the refrigerating and the compressing mediums, and an aspirator operated by centrifugal force on the compressing medium to continuously aspirate the gaseous portion of the refrigerating medium from the low ressure cham.- berto the high pressure chamber and chan e it to a liquid, and means controlled by tie pressure 1n said low pressure chamber to control the passage of such liquid to the low pressure chamber.

4. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprising a rotatable casing having a compression chamber at one end and an expansion chamber at the other end, a passage for liquidl refrigerant leading from said compression chamber to said expansion chamber, and an aspirator operated by centrifugal force on the compressing medium to effect the continuous travel of gaseous ref ri erant from the expansionk chamber to sai compression chamber. v

5. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprisin a rotatable casing having a compression c amber at one end and an expansion chamber at the otherend, a passage for liquid refrigerant leading from the upper end` of said compression chamberto said eX- pansion chamber, means to automatically control said passage and anaspirator oper' ated by centrlfugal f orce on the compressing medium to eect 'the continuous travel of gaseous refrigerant from the expansion `chamber to said compression chamber.

6. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprisitn a rotatable casing having a comression c amber and an expansion chamer, a-stationary member within said casing g -having ports in its side communicating with a 'chamber terminating in proximity to said passage, an aspirator means to rotate said casing to cause centri u continuous travel of t e compressing medium through said ports to aspirate the gaseous refrigerant through said assage, means to cool said compression cham er, and means to control passage of liquid refrigerant to said expansion chamber.

7. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprisin a rotatable casing having a compression c amber and an expansion chamber, a stationary member within said casing havin a passage therethrough communicating with said chambers, the portion of said member Within said compression chamber having ports in its side communicating with a chamberterminating in proximity to said passage, an'aspirator means to rotate said casin to cause centrifugal force to effect the continu-` ous travel j0f` the compressing medium through said ports to aspirate the gaseous i refrigerant through said passage, `means to cool said compression chamber, and means to control passage of liquid refrigerant through said stationary member to said expansion chamber.

8. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprising a water tank, a chamber to be cooled, a casing having a compression chamber located within said tank and an expansion chamber located in the chamber to be cooled, a stationary member `within said chambers and havin a disk within the compression chamber Wlth ports near its outer periphery, an annulus spaced from said disk and having its inner portion rounded and its outer portion connected t0 said disk, a nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber and projectin into the compression chamber in proximity to the rounded portions of said disk, means to rotate the casing to cause the centrifugal action on the compressing medium to efi'ect passage of the rcfrigeratinprI medium through said nozzle, and means to control the passage of refrigerant from the compression chamber to the expansion chainber.

9. AV centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprising a cooling tank, a chamber to be cooled, a casing having a compression chamber in said tank and an expansion chamber in the chamber to be co9led, an inner stationary member, antifriction devices between l force to elfect lthe x said member and casing, said member comprising a plate with ports through its side, a disk spaced from the plate to form a channel and connected to its outer ortion, said disk having a central passage t ieretlirough a nozzle discharging into said passage and communicatingwith said expansion chamber, said member having a passage communicatingwith the upper portion of said coinpression chamber `and with said expansion chamber, an automatically controlled' valve for said last named passage, and means to rotate said casing.

10. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprising a rotatable casing, aninner stationary member, antifriction devices between p said casing and member, and means to pass comprising a casing having compression and expansion chambers connected by a tubular connection, a disk in the compression chami ber, an annulus having, its lowerportion weighted and its outer portion connected with said disk and forming therewith a channel communicating with ports through the disk, a nozzle carried bv the disk, a conduit connected with the disk and communieating with said nozzle, a closure for said conduit having a passage leading from the expansion chamber into said conduit and a port communicating` with saidv expansion chamber, a second disk carried by said conduit, a pressure controlled valve carried by said second disk and controlling said port, a`

tube communicating with said port and with a passage opening through said Iirst disk and annulus at their upper portions, and means to rotate said casing. v

13. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprising a casing having compression and expansion chambers connected by a tubular connection, a disk in the compression chamber. an annulusy having its lower portion i weighted and its outer portion connected with said disk andformingtherewith a channel communicating with ports through they disk, a nozzle carried by the disk., a conduit connected with the disk and communicating with said nozzle', said tubular connection and conduit forming a conical space with its greatest diameter toward the compression chamber, antifriction devices between said casingand conduit, a closure for saidconduit having a passage leadin from the expansion f chamber into said con uit, and al port communicating with said expansion chamber, a second disk carried by said conduit, a pressure controlled valve carried bysaid second disk and controlling said port, a tube communicating with said port and with a passage opening through said first disk and annulus at their upper portions, and means to rotate said casing.

14. A centrifugal refrigerating machine, comprising a casing having compression and expansion chambers connected by a tubular connection, a disk in the compression chamber, anv annulus having` its lower portion weighted and its outer portion connected with said disk and forming therewith a channel communicating with ports through the disk, a nozzle carried by the disk, a conduit connected with the disk and communieating with said nozzle, a closure for said conduit having a plurality of passages leading from the expansion chamber into` said conduit and a port communicating with said expansion chamber, said disk having a passage therethrough communicating with said channel and said conduit, a second disk carried by said conduit, a pressure-controlled valve carried by said second disk and controlling said port, a tube communicating with said port and with ay passage opening through said first'disk and annulus at their upper portions, and means to rotate said casing. y v i 15. A centrifugal refrigeratingmach'ine,

comprising a casing having compression and expansion chambers-connected by a tubular connection, a disk in the compression chamber, an annulus having its lower portion weighted and its outer portion connected with 'said disk and forming therewith a channel communicating with ports through the disk, a nozzle carried by the disk, a conduit connected with the disk and communieating with said nozzle, a closure for said conduit having a plurality of passages leading from the expansion chamber into said conduit and a port communicating with said expansion chamber, said disk having a passage therethrough communicatingwith said channel and said conduit, a second diskcarried by Said conduit, an antifriction bearin between said conduit and casing, said secon disk havin a passage from its lower portion to sai antifriction-bearin a pressure controlled valvecarried by sai lsecond disk and controlling said port, a tube communicatin with said port and with a passage opening through said first disk and. annulus at their upper portions, and means to rotate said casing.

A16. A centrifugal vrefrigeratin machine, having intercommunicating hig and low pressure chambers to receive the refrigerating and the compressing mediums, and means to laspirato the gaseous portion of the refrigerating medium from the low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber.

17. A centrifugal refrigerating machine Y having high and low pressure chambers to nozzle.

19. A centrifugal refrigerating machine comprising a rotatable casing having a compression chamber and an expansion chainber, an aspirator comprising a nozzle concentrically located and in communication with said chamber, and a restricted passage surrounding said nozzle, and a stationary member within said casing having a passage therethrough extending from said restricted passage to a point farther from the axis of the casing. f

20'. A centrifugalx refrigerating machine comprising a rotatable casing, an inner stationary member, antifrictionl devices between said casing and member and passages through said stationary member to permit the compressing medium to pass to said devices to lubricate them. f

21. A centrifugal refrigerating machine comprising a rotatable casing having a compression chambe at one end and an expansion chamber at the other end, a passage for liquid refrigerant leading from said compression chamber to said expansion chamber, means to automatically control said passage, an aspirator, and means operated by centrifugal force on the compressing medium to effect the` continuous travel of. gaseous refrigerant from the expansion chamber to said compression chamber.

22. A centrifu l refrigerating machine, comprising a casing rotatably mounted and havin high and lower pressure chambers, a stationary member within said casing having a passage therearound communicating with said chambers, a compressing medium and a refrigerating medium, said compressing medium serving to seal said passage.

23. A centrifugal refrigerating machine having intercommunicating compression and expansion chambers to receive the refriger- -atiiig and the compressing mediums and operated by centrifugal force on the compressing medium to continuously aspirate the ber to the compression chamber due to the aseous portion of the refrigerating medium action of centrifugal force. lnto the compression chamber, and means to `permit the compressingmedium to pass VICTOR J. GOETZ. 5 from said compression chamber into said Witneses: n

expansion chamber, und the compressing H. FAIRBANKS,

S medium traveling from the expansion cham? C. D. MCVAY. 

